As the USFL was starting, it sought to take advantage of the void left behind when the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles. Owned by Bay Area real estate magnates Jim Joseph and Tad Taube, the team would pick a similar sounding name the Oakland Invaders.

Both owners had a chance to take over the Los Angeles franchise with a coin flip deciding who would get the LA team, with Taube remaining at the head of the Invaders. Joseph would not get the Los Angeles Express and instead owned the Arizona Wranglers.

The Oakland Invaders were coach by John Ralston a former coach of the Denver Broncos, who also coached at Stanford. The Invaders started the season with an impressive 24-0 win over the Arizona Wranglers on the road.

However, a week later in the home opener at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, the Invaders lost in overtime to the Birmingham Stallions 20-14. The Invaders would go up and down all season as they hovered near .

500, finishing with a record of 9-9. However, with the rest of the Pacific Conference struggling, the Invaders finished in first place.

The Invaders offense was led by Fred Besana who was the second leading passer in the USFL with 3,980 yards with 21 touchdowns. The Invaders rushing attack was led by former Raider Art Whittington who gained 1,157 yards with six touchdowns.

Raymond Chester a former Raider also had a solid season, with 951 yards and five touchdowns as he was one the USFL's top Tight Ends. 1983 USFL Playoffs: The Oakland Invaders would face the Michigan Panthers in the playoffs, with a USFL record 60,237 fans at the Pontiac Silverdome.

The Invaders were able to quiet the fans early, as Fred Besana scored on a one yard sneak to give Oakland an early 7-0 lead. However, the Panthers would answer with 17 points in the second quarter to take a 17-7 lead into the half.

The Invaders would creep back in the game in the third quarter as David Shaw intercepted a pass by Bobby Hebert and returned it 19 yards for a touchdown. However, the Panthers offense kept controlling the game and eventually raced out to a 37-14 lead, before Oakland scored a cosmetic touchdown in the final seconds.

The Panthers would follow up the 37-21 victory by capturing the first USFL Championship against the Philadelphia Stars.